I received your letter just now. All of yesterday I was standing and awaiting to see you — and it did not come to pass. What to do — for the obstacle of livelihood spreads greatly every time — but good to thank Hashem that your will is strong toward the truth. And with Hashem's help — there is still a vision for the appointed time — and certainly we will see each other's faces soon — and you will come with joyful song with Hashem's help. And today in the morning it passed through my mind to write you something new that is in my heart — but at present I am very preoccupied.
And the general principle [וְהַכְּלָל — the general rule — a classic Breslov letter structure: Reb Nussun presents the entire teaching in one pithy principle, then elaborates] — that you need to think every day as if today you were born — and as if you have nothing in the world except that day alone — and not to trouble your mind about the past and about the future. And even though you are engaged in commerce and livelihood needs which is about the future — even so — the essential is this day that you are standing in — for you do not know what the day will bring. And there is much to speak about this — and you have already heard much about this — and every day may they be in your eyes as new. And how greatly we need to rejoice in our portion over the immensity of His chesed that He separated us from many errors and foolish counsels and so forth. And it is impossible to express in the open field — especially in these times.
Be strong — my son — and be resolute — for Hashem is with you even now. And all the yearning of your good heart is all recorded on high for good. All the more so when you merit to bring from potential to actual — to speak with a full mouth your good longings every day — which is the essential. And Hashem Yisborach desires also your prayer and your speech — and no speech is lost. Be strong — my son — and be resolute in Torah and prayer and speech before Him — Yisborach — all that you can snatch every day and every time — whether much or little — for one who does much and one who does little and so forth. And behold — I am staying here — this is day 4 — and today or tomorrow if Hashem wills I will travel to my home. And we have still done nothing in our affairs — and when you will be with me if Hashem wills I will tell you everything — at present we are casting our burden only upon Hashem Yisborach alone — that He will show us the straight path and the good counsel — in a way that I will merit to return to my home here in peace. More than this there is no leisure to extend.
[Postscript — on the woman Sarah and on casting all particular needs upon Hashem] The woman Sarah left in refusal after her promise to be in your house [שָׂרָה — a servant woman — it was apparently arranged that she would work in Yitzchok's household and she broke this arrangement] — and in my view — even though you now have great pain from this because there is no servant available — even so — certainly Hashem Yisborach will help you and you will find as you wish — and then you will thank Hashem that she refused — for it is for your good. And if Hashem wills — when you will be with me — I will speak with you about this also — for all the laws of derech eretz are all relevant and included in the service of Hashem. For the day is comprised of Torah and derech eretz — and they are included one in the other — as every person can understand for himself. And in all matters there is no counsel except to wait for His salvation — Yisborach — and in the meantime to ask from Hashem Yisborach that He arrange for him what he needs — whether a small matter or a great matter — all the particular needs of food and drink and clothing and dwellings and eating utensils and household utensils and servants and tuition fees — there is no counsel and strategy except to cast one's burden upon Hashem Yisborach that He arrange what he needs. And if some action and counsel and strategy is needed for this — that Hashem Yisborach will arrange it and show him the good counsel in its time and in its season — for in all matters one needs good counsel. For in all matters there are doubts and much division of counsel — until it is impossible to devise counsels for oneself — except to lean upon Him — Yisborach — and to ask from before Him that He have mercy and repair him with good counsel from before Him.
The words of your father — whose immensity of love for you and your good yearning compelled him to write him these words now — and his eyes await Hashem Yisborach that you will give yourself life with this — un taki fort hoff — and in any case — forward with hope! [אוּן טַאקֶי פָארְט הָאפּ — Yiddish: "and in any case — forward with hope!" — one of Reb Nussun's characteristic Yiddish exclamations of encouragement: whatever has happened, whatever obstacles remain — forward with hope, always forward] For praised be G-d — we have an old Father and so forth — and we have One to lean on — praised be G-d. And all is vanity — all is vanity — but the Torah novellae that we received in this generation — true novellae such as these — they are words of the living G-d — the word of our G-d which will stand forever — and kushta ka'ei. [קוּשְׁטָא קָאֵי — Aramaic: "and truth endures" — from the Talmud (Shabbas 55a): the seal of the Holy One is truth — *emet* — and *kushta ka'ei* — truth stands and endures. The Yiddish folk saying says: *a lig shtayt nit* — a lie cannot stand — *nor kushta ka'ei* — but truth endures forever]
Nussun the above-mentioned.
Overview: Wednesday, Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan — Breslov. To Yitzchok. Received his letter just now. All of yesterday was standing and awaiting to see him — it did not come to pass. What to do — the obstacle of livelihood spreads greatly every time — but good to thank Hashem that your will is strong toward the truth. With Hashem's help there is still a vision for the appointed time — certainly they will see each other's faces soon — and he will come with joyful song. Today in the morning it passed through his mind to write something new — but he is very preoccupied. Then the general principle: you need to think every day as if today you were born — and as if you have nothing in the world except that day alone — and not to trouble your mind about past or future. Even though engaged in commerce — the essential is this day that you are standing in — for you do not know what the day will bring. Every day may they be in your eyes as new. How greatly we need to rejoice in our portion over the immensity of His chesed that He separated us from many errors and foolish counsels. Be strong my son — for Hashem is with you even now. All the yearning of your good heart is recorded on high. All the more so when you merit to bring from potential to actual — to speak with a full mouth your good longings — which is the essential. Hashem desires also your prayer and your speech — no speech is lost. He is staying here — day 4 — today or tomorrow if Hashem wills he will travel to his home. Casting the burden only upon Hashem alone — that He will show them the straight path. Then postscript: The woman Sarah left in refusal after her promise — Hashem will help you find as you wish — then you will thank Hashem that she refused — for it is for your good. All the laws of derech eretz are relevant and included in the service of Hashem. The day is comprised of Torah and derech eretz — they are included one in the other. In all matters there is no counsel except to cast one's burden upon Hashem — whether a small matter or a great matter — all the particular needs of food and drink and clothing and dwellings and household utensils and servants and tuition — cast one's burden upon Hashem. For in all matters there are doubts and much division of counsel — impossible to devise counsels for oneself — except to lean upon Him and ask that He repair him with good counsel from before Him. Closing: forward with hope — un taki fort hoff! For praised be G-d we have an old Father — we have One to lean on. All is vanity — but the Torah novellae of this generation — true novellae such as these — are words of the living G-d — the word of our G-d which will stand forever — and kushta ka'ei.